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Ovingham Eel Screens

This project is to provide environmentally friendly fish exclusion screens at the raw water pumping station at Ovingham. These screens are necessary to protect the European Eel and other fish species that are present in the River Tyne. Work will commence April 2023 and anticipated to be complete October 2026.

Start Date: April 2023

Estimated End Date: October 2026

Partner: Northumbrian Water, Mott MacDonald Bentley

Male Northumbrian water employee in front of house

Guiding Principles.pdf

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Phases

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Project Updates

Project Updates

13 March 2025 - No end date

Keep up to date with the latest news, progress and upcoming work on our project.

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Community Hub Admin Team 1 month ago Hi everyone,We’re pleased to share a further update on our work at Ovingham. Since our last update in January, the team has continued to make good progress on site and has now completed the installation of the new eel screens.All eel screens now installedWe’re happy to confirm that all four new eel screens are now in place.The final pair were lifted into place earlier this month following careful preparation to make sure the work could be carried out safely and smoothly.What we’ve been working onIn recent weeks, the team has been focused on: Installing the remaining eel screens Completing supporting work around the intake area Carrying out checks to make sure everything fits and operates as intended Managing river conditions, including clearing natural build‑up from the intake when needed All of this work has been carefully planned and carried out with safety as the top priority.What’s nextOver the coming weeks, work will continue to: Finish connecting and setting up the new screens Carry out testing to make sure the system works as designed Complete small finishing tasks around the intake area This will help ensure the new screens are fully ready for long‑term use.Looking aheadOnce fully set up, the new screens will help protect fish and eel populations in the River Tyne while supporting the reliable operation of the intake. This is an important part of improving the site for the future.Thank you to local residents for your patience and continued support while this work takes place. We’ll continue to share updates as the project progresses.

Community Hub Admin Team 3 months ago Hi everyone,We’re pleased to share the latest progress on our work at Ovingham. Since our last update, the project team has delivered several key activities on site and reached an important milestone in the programme.First pair of eel screens installedThe first pair of new eel screens has now been successfully installed. This follows a period of significant preparation, including scaffolding adjustments, support-frame steelwork, and underwater clearance works to remove silt and debris from the intake area. Completing these activities has enabled us to carry out the installation safely and accurately.Continuing mechanical and electrical worksMechanical and electrical installation has progressed well, with ongoing work to complete wash‑water, raw‑water and cooling‑water pipework. Electrical containment, cabling and fibre‑communication testing have also advanced, providing the infrastructure required to support future screen installations.Managing winter river conditionsThroughout December and January, elevated river levels and increased siltation required additional clearance works, including emergency cleaning of the existing coarse bar screens. These activities have been managed safely and have helped maintain progress toward the next project stages.Next stepsOver the coming weeks, our work will focus on: Preparing for the installation of screens 3 and 4 Continuing electrical and cabling works Ongoing underwater clearance around the intake Finalising remaining pipework across the pumping station These works will support the continued modernisation of the intake system and ensure compliance with environmental requirements.Why this mattersThe upgraded eel screens will help protect fish and eel populations by preventing entrainment into the intake system, supporting the long‑term health of the River Tyne and ensuring alignment with environmental standards.Thank you to local residents for their patience and understanding while this essential work continues.

Go Vocal Admin5 months ago Hi everyone,We’ve made great progress on site since our last update, and we’re excited to share what’s happening.What’s been completed: The secondary steelwork is now installed, including the coarse bar screen that helps protect the new intake system. Decking has been fitted to provide safe access to the upper level. Two green kiosks have been lifted into place: One filters river water to clean the new intake screens. The other houses the control panel that operates the new equipment. What’s next: We’ve now moved into the mechanical and electrical installation phase, which is essential for running the new screens. This stage will mostly be completed by the end of 2025. The first pair of new eel screens is planned for delivery in early 2026.Why this matters: These improvements will help protect wildlife in the River Tyne, and ensure our systems meet environmental standards.Thank you for your patience and continued support while our work is ongoing.

Go Vocal Admin7 months ago Hi everyone,Over the past month, we’ve made steady progress with the installation of the secondary steelwork including the coarse bar screen to deflect big debris at the front of the new structure, which is now underway as planned and on schedule.Once the secondary metalwork is complete, we’ll move on to installing the mechanical and electrical elements needed for the new screens. This stage will begin in early autumn, keeping us on track for the new screens to be installed in early 2026.We truly appreciate your patience and continued support while our work is ongoing.If you have any questions or concerns about the project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact details providedThank you

Go Vocal Admin8 months ago Hello everyone,Hope you are all enjoying the summer break,We’re pleased to share the latest progress on our works.Over the past month, we’ve made steady progress with the installation of the secondary steelwork and decking, which is now underway as planned and on schedule.Once the secondary metalwork is complete, we’ll move on to installing the mechanical and electrical elements needed for the new screens. This stage will begin in early autumn, keeping us on track for the new screens to be installed in early 2026.We truly appreciate your patience and continued support while our work is ongoing.If you have any questions or concerns about the project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact details providedThank you,Julie

Go Vocal Admin9 months ago Hello all,How unpredictable is this weather, hope you are making the most of the sunshine though?Thought I would just give you an update on the progress we have made here on Ovingham.Our works over the past month have progressed steadily, with the installation of the primary steel beams which will suspend the new deck for the new screens now completed. This represents a key milestone on the scheme as this has allowed us to commence demobilisation and removal the 500t crane from site and set up ready for the secondary steelwork installation & deck along with the mechanical & electrical install ahead of the new screens being delivered in early 2026. We once again would like to thank you all for your patience and continued support while the works continue. If you have any questions or issues relating to the project, feel free to get in touch, using the contact details provided.Thanks againJulie

Go Vocal Admin10 months ago Hello all, hope you are all getting ready for the summerWe would like to provide our latest update on Ovingham Eel Screens on the River Tyne.Our works over the past month have progressed steadily, with the removal of the final tubular and sheet piles in the river and then the preparation works for the installation of the primary steel beams which will suspend the new deck for the new screens which are due to be installed at the start of next month. This represents a key milestone on the scheme as at this point, we can demobilise and remove the 500t crane from site and set up ready for the mechanical & electrical install ahead of the new screens being delivered in early 2026. We once again would like to thank you all for your patience and continued support while the works continue. If you have any questions or issues relating to the project, feel free to get in touchThank youJulie

Go Vocal Admin10 months ago Hi everyone,Our works over the past month have progressed steadily, with the shutting down the pumping station for 24 hours on a weekly basis to allow removal of the temporary tubular and sheet piles which were used to allow us to install the concrete bases for the eel screens taking place. We are now at the point where we have no requirement for further 24 hour shutdowns. Planned works in the coming month are the removal of the final tubular and sheet piles in the river and then the preparation works for the installation of the primary steel beams which will suspend the new deck for the new screensWe once again would like to thank you all for your patience and continued support while the works continue. If you have any questions or issues relating to the project, feel free to get in touch.

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago Afternoon all, we are here with our latest update.Our works over the past month have progressed steadily, with both concrete bases for the new eel screens now complete. We will now begin the next phase including shutdown elements of the pumping station.For the next 6 weeks we will be shutting down the pumping station for 24 hours to allow removal of the temporary tubular and sheet piles which were used to allow us to install the concrete bases for the eel screens.We once again would like to thank you all for your patience and continued support while the works continue. If you have any questions or issues relating to the project, feel free to get in touch.Concrete break out of tubular pipes.

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago Its been a while so I thought I would let you know what has been happening on the project at Ovingham, we have made some good progress on site even though the weather has been against us somedays, we have been working hard on the upstream cofferdam over the past month, this is an enclosure built within a body of water to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out or drained which then creates a dry working environment so that the work can be carried out safely. we have excavated it to formation level, Installed the stone, as well as installing concrete blinding, rebar and concrete base. Going forward over the next few months this we will be carrying this same operation to install the downstream cofferdam and concrete base. We are also using our crane to assist NWG with the pump replacements.In the meantime if you have any issues or questions please leave a comment below.

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago We would just like to welcome you to the first update of the year here at Ovingham. Due to the weather conditions progress has been slow on site but we are hoping the weather will improve so we can continue with the project. At the moment we are currently on with the installation of upstream concrete base unit for the first set of screens to sit on at the front of the river. Upon completion of the upstream concrete base we will then progress to the downstream concrete base for the second set of screens to sit on. We would once again like to thank you for your continued support and patience while the works are ongoing, in the meantime if you have any questions or queries please leave a comment below.

Go Vocal Admin1 year ago As christmas draws closer I would like to welcome you to your monthly update, here on Ovingham Eels project.We are making good progress on site, the team are now working hard on making concrete bases for the new Eel screens that we are fitting into the River Tyne, going forward over the next few months this will be their main focus on getting these completed so we can progress with the project.We once again would like to thank you all for your patience and continued support while the works continue. In the meantime if you have any questions about the project or any issues please feel free to leave a comment below.

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